Mail box



y 7, 1931. D. H. TEMPLETON MAIL Box Filed June 8, 1928 Zsnvcntor 35Daniel Hflbmpleton Wflflomeg Patented July 7, 1931 DANIEL H.rnivrrnn'romor MEAD, NEBRASKA MAIL BOX Application filed June 8, 1%) 28.Serial No. 369,397.

This invention relates to an improved mail box and has for its objectsto provide a mail box which will conform to all of the requirements ofthe Postal Department of the United States, and which will be convenientin use for the mail clerk in delivering and collecting rural mail aswell as convenient for the patron, said box to be of such'constructionthat it may be conveniently and economically manufactured. Other objectsof the invention will be fully described in the specification.

With the foregoing objects in view and others to be mentioned theinvention presents a new and useful construction, combination andarrangement of parts as described herein and claimed and as illustratedin the accompanying drawings, it being understood that I may makechanges in form, size, proportion of parts and minor details, saidchanges being within the scope of the invention as claimed. I

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mail box embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a front View of the same, the supports at the endsof the box being broken away. Fig. 3 is an end view of the mail box.Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail showing an end-portion of an operating-barproviding a latch and a catch provided for the wall of the box.

Referring now to the drawings for a more particular description, themail box is preferably rectangular in plan and is provided at its endswith trunnions 5 and a hinged lid 6, its front being provided with. ahandle 7.

I provide a pair of angular supportingbrackets each having a verticalpart 8 adapted to be bolted to a post 9, its upper end being aperturedfor receiving a trunnion 5, whereby the mail box may have transverse 4swinging movements between these station ary brackets.

Each angular bracket has a horizontal part 10 extending rearwardly ofthe mail box at an end thereof. The remaining part of each 4 angularsupporting-bracket consists of a part 11 having a terminal projection a,and at 12 is indicated a spool or roller which is pivotally mounted uponand which connects the projections a.

By referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings it will be seen that parts 11 ofthe pair of supporting-brackets are disposed a sufficient distancerearwardly of the mail box to permit the latter to have swingingmovements, this being a matter of convenience for removing mail. r I

' Means are provided for causing the lid 6 to swing rearwardly to permitthe mail carrier to use both hands while removing or depositingmail,.said means consisting in part,:of a bell-crank 18 being mounted at14 to swing from apart 11- of one of the angular brackets mentioned,'aflexible strand or chain 15 being used for connecting the end of thebell-crank and the bottom of the mail box, said chainat all times beingin engagement with the spool 12. r The .bell-crank therefore may swingin a' plane parallel with the parts 10 and 11 of the angularsupportingsbrackets, said bellcrank moving in a plane somewhat belowsaid parts 10 and 11-so that its movements will be free andunobstructed. I

In operation, it is obvous thatv if the free end of the bell-crank ismoved upwardly at theend of the mail box,its opposite end will movetoward said box, and this is depended upon for causing the tilting orforwardly swinging movement of the box.

The lid 6 is swung upwardly by the last named action of the bell-crank.Numeral 16 indicates an operating-lever which is disposed upon the lid,the front end being pivotally mounted as indicated at 23 upon the lid atthe frontedge thereof, said lever 16 8 having a length suflicient toextend a considerable distance rearwardly of the mail box. Numeral 18indicates a flexible strand or chain which connects the rear end of thelever 16 with the endof the bell-crank.

It will thus be seen that the lifting of the lid and swinging or tiltingmovement of the box will be. coincident. 'Also that the forward swingingmovement of the box will be in a limited arc.

Numeral 19 indicates a signal which is pivotally mounted on a trunnion.This signal is used by a patron, and is'swung upwardly to indicate thatmail matter has been deposited in the'box. When the box is tiltedforwardly the signal will leave its holder 20 and will swing downwardlyas shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

According to the present construction, the lid cannot be lifted from thebox by action of wind or other causes incident to its use, consisting ofa catch 21 adapted to engage a latch In operation the operating-lever 16will be swung downwardly from its pivotal mounting which releases thecatch from the latch, the pivotal mounting of the catch 21 beingindicated at 17, best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. i

I claim as my invention r 1. A mail box provided at its ends withtrunnions and having a hinged lid, a pair of stationary angularsupporting brackets each having a part extendingrearwardly of the box, aspool connecting the adjacent ends of said brackets, a bell-crankpivotally mounted on one of said brackets, an operating-lever mounted onthe lid, a chain connecting the operating lever with the bellcrank, anda chain engaging the spool and connected with the bell-crank and bottomof the box, said bell-crank being movable for coincidentally causing aswinging movement of the box and a swinging movement of the lid to openposition.

2. A mail box having a hinged lid and provided at its ends withtrunnions, a spool, an operating lever on the lid, av pair of stationaryangular brackets each having a vertical part providing bearings for atrunnion and having horizontal parts extending rearwardly of the box fora connection with said spool, a bell-crankpivotally mounted on one ofsaid brackets, a chain engaging the spool and having a connectionwiththebell-crank and box, a second chain connecting the bellcrank with theoperating lever, said bellcrank being movable for causing swingingmovements of the box and a swinging movement of the signal.

3. A mail box having a hinged lid, an operating lever disposedtransversely of and secured to said lid, a pair of uprightstationsupports. a pair of an 'ular'brackets each having a partpivotally connected with an end of the box and rigidly secured to oneofsaid supports, a spool connecting said brackets, a bell-crank pivotallymounted on one of the brackets, a chain engaging the spool and connectedwiththe bell-crank and mail box, and a second chain connecting theoperating lever with the bell-crank, said bellcrank being movable forcausing'a swinging movement of the box and a movement of the lidrelative to said box.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

DANIEL H. TEMPLETON.

